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Diagnostic Model and Tool

Diagnosing can focus on understanding organisational problems, including their causes and consequences and identifying the organisation's positive attributes.  It includes gathering, analysing, and feeding back information to managers and organisation members about the problems or opportunities that exist.  Data can be gathered through interviews, observations, survey instruments, people and culture metrics, or sources such as meeting minutes and organisation charts.

The model below can be used as a guide to diagnosing performance improvement aspects at an organisational, team or individual level.

How to use this model

The model outlines areas of consideration that could impact effectiveness. By delving into each of these areas by asking the right questions, it is possible to get a full picture of what is going on to enable a holistic diagnosis and integrated solution.

Environment

External forces which affect ECU’s or the group’s objectives or performance directly or indirectly such as legislation, the economy and labour market, stakeholder relationships, employer and industry needs, emerging technologies and social change.

Purpose, Vision, Values

The purpose defines what the organisation is all about. At ECU the purpose is to transform lives and enrich society through education and research. The vision clearly and concisely communicates ECU’s long term goals. The vision is for ECU to be recognised for its world-ready graduates and world-class research. Work towards the goals needs to be undertaken in accordance with the ECU values of Respect, Integrity, Rational Inquiry and Personal Excellence. The extent to which the organisational members are clear about the organisation’s purpose, vision, and values expressed in behaviours is important to achieving ECU’s goals.

Strategy and Goals

The plan(s) devised to maintain and build sustainability, growth and competitiveness to ensure the vision is achieved.

Structure

The arrangement and resourcing of functional areas and operational units, that signify levels of responsibility, decision making authority, lines of communication, and relationships that lead to implementation of ECU’s strategy and goals.

Systems, Processes & Non-human resources

Policies, procedures and resources that are designed to help and support ECU’s employees with their jobs and role responsibilities. Includes the appropriate amount of equipment and resources needed to achieve the organisation’s goals.

Task and Skills

Understanding what a specific job position demands and the kind of knowledge, skills and abilities that an employee must have in order to fulfill the task responsibilities of their role. It’s important to see how well jobs and employees have been matched.

Relationships

Between individuals, and between schools or departments that perform different tasks and have developed their own individual cultures. This includes the level of required interdependence, quality of relationships, and how conflict is managed.

Leadership Style

This category is usually associated with the behaviour of senior executives, however at ECU this also relates to supervisors and managers. By leadership we mean, providing direction, persuasion, influence, serving followers and acting as a role model.

To what extent can ECU’s leaders set direction for the future, drive the implementation of strategy, manage uncertainty, deal with complexity, effectively manage risk and deal with complex financial, people and change management issues?

Performance - Organisation Effectiveness

The outcomes and results of all the organisation’s activities that in turn are responses to the external environment (input). It includes organisational performance, stakeholder satisfaction and productivity.

The Tool

Organisational LevelTeam/Group Level
Environment
What are the key environmental forces impacting ECU?
What are the current challenges for the organisation?
Environment
Who are your team’s key stakeholders and how do they impact you and the team?
How does your team adapt to changing market conditions?
Purpose, Vision, Values
How is ECU achieving its vision?
Can employees articulate the purpose, vision and values?
Purpose, Vision, Values
Is your team fulfilling its purpose?
How do shared values play out in daily life?
Strategy
What is the organisation’s strategy trying to achieve?
What is distinct about this organisation?
Strategy
What are the team’s goals?
What is distinct about this team?
Structure
How is information shared (formal and informal channels) across the organisation?
Are there adequate human resources to complete the objectives?
Structure
How is the team organised?
How is information shared (formal and informal channels) within the team?
Systems, Processes & Non-human resources
What are the primary business and technical systems that drive the organisation?
Is there adequate equipment to achieve the organisation’s strategy?
Systems, Processes & Non-human resources
What systems impact your work (positive and/or negative)?
What internal rules and processes does the team utilise to maintain course towards meeting its objectives?
Task and Skills
Is there clarity and consistency around job roles and titles?
What skills are used to deliver the core products and / or services?
Task and Skills
Is there clarity and consistency around job roles/tasks and titles within the team?
Do the skills and capabilities of the employees match the job roles?
Relationships
What is the relationship between the UE and other employees?
Is there a culture where employees are able to express themselves openly and honestly?
Relationships
What is the level of trust amongst team members?
How is conflict managed amongst team members?
Leadership
How do employees respond to senior management/leadership?
Do Schools & Directorates function competitively, collaboratively, or cooperatively?
Leadership
How does leadership style impact your work (positively and negatively)?
What behaviours, tasks and deliverables does the team leader reward?
PerformancePerformance
How do you ensure that you collaborate with customers to meet ECU KPIs.

How are your outcomes linked to the organisational/team objectives?
What prohibits you from delivering on agreed outcomes?

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